Just another WordPress.com weblog

Menu

Monthly Archives: October 2013

Post navigation

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Colossians 3:1-17

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

How shall we live? With compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, forgiving with love, allowing peace to rule with the word in us teaching and admonishing, singing songs and giving thanks to God, this is the picture drawn of genuine believers. Does the description fit us? Time to reflect and search our hearts, minds and souls. Time to ask of ourselves, if we were the person crossing our path what would they see, experience of us? Is there light? Is there salt? Or do we carry the opposites of these descriptors? Help us Lord this day to exhibit the list of traits that say we are your children, children of light not darkness.

Disclaimer: if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me. I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, Word Press charges a fee. I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me. Thank you, gracie

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Colossians 2:11-23

In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

Therefore let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Let no one disqualify you, insisting on asceticism and worship of angels, going on in detail about visions, puffed up without reason by his sensuous mind, and not holding fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.

If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits of the world, why, as if you were still alive in the world, do you submit to regulations— “Do not handle, Do not taste, Do not touch” (referring to things that all perish as they are used)—according to human precepts and teachings? These have indeed an appearance of wisdom in promoting self-made religion and asceticism and severity to the body, but they are of no value in stopping the indulgence of the flesh.

There are no legal demands; those have been paid. Nothing we can do will cancel the debt of sin other than to receive, gladly, what has been done already for us by Christ. There are no obligations or requirements imposed upon us other than that which we willingly do out of love for our God and fellow mankind. We are to be wary of human demands, that do not rest on biblical principles. Know what the Word says so that we are not deceived! Hold… fast to the Head, from whom the whole body, nourished and knit together through its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God. The head of the body of Christ– and we are the body–is Christ Jesus.

Disclaimer: if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me. I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, Word Press charges a fee. I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me. Thank you, gracie

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Colossians 2:1-10

For I want you to know how great a struggle I have for you and for those at Laodicea and for all who have not seen me face to face, that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God’s mystery, which is Christ, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. I say this in order that no one may delude you with plausible arguments. For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ.

Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.

When we hear of a “new” idea, a new take on philosophy or even scripture, a new take on religious faith, we need to be on alert, beware of the subtle deceit. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit who guides into all truth, knowledge and wisdom, and when we are filled with scripture we can be assured those ‘plausible arguments’ will be seen for what they are; typical of the Father of lies in that they often contain a kernel of truth that is distorted. Remember the original question: “did God say…?” followed by the plausible argument “you shall not surely die…” And on the surface of the event they did not fall dead. On the inside they were dying already. When we reject the truth of God we condemn ourselves to a slow death not just physical, but also spiritual and its evidence is in our spoken words, thoughts and actions.

Disclaimer: if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me. I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, WordPress charges a fee. I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me. Thank you, gracie

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Colossians 1:20-29

For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, he has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him, if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I am filling up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions for the sake of his body, that is, the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God that was given to me for you, to make the word of God fully known, the mystery hidden for ages and generations but now revealed to his saints. To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ. For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.

Alienated and hostile in mind, this is a condition that exists before belief in and acceptance of Christ. The mind which sets us apart from all other creation, is transformed in Christ. This is through teaching and listening to the Word given to us in Christ and by scripture. As with any gift, the receiver must actively participate in taking the gift. We are indebted to those who with the “energy that he powerfully works within me” teach and warn us. May we seek maturity in Christ in whom rests our present and future.

Disclaimer: if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me. I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, WordPress charges a fee. I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me. Thank you, gracie

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Colossians 1:11-20

May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy,

giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.

So, in Christ we see God our Father and Creator. And light is spoken once again into the darkness; a darkness that crept over the face of earth as mankind turned their backs on God to go their own way. So as we turn back through Christ, light enters our world once more. And now we speak in spiritual terms. This light transcends all other light. It illuminates the soul and we grow as spiritual beings in Christ. In this we become transformed into overcomers of all that the darkness tries to throw at us.

Disclaimer: if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me. I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, WordPress charges a fee. I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me. Thank you, gracie

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Colossians 1:1-10

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, to the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing—as it also does among you, since the day you heard it and understood the grace of God in truth, just as you learned it from Epaphras our beloved fellow servant. He is a faithful minister of Christ on your behalf and has made known to us your love in the Spirit. And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.

Do we pray for one another in this way? ” Asking that we may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to Him, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God.” Reflect for a bit; are we walking “in a manner worthy of the Lord…”? God does the work in us as we seek Him and make the choices that reflect our love for Him. Are we pleasing Him? Are we bearing fruit? Are we increasing in the knowledge of God? Only we know the truth…

Disclaimer: if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me. I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, WordPress charges a fee. I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me. Thank you, gracie

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. Romans

Comments, thoughts and reflections welcome.

Psalm 119 Taw vs. 169-173

Let my cry come before you, O LORD;

give me understanding according to your word!

Let my plea come before you;

deliver me according to your word.

My lips will pour forth praise,

for you teach me your statutes.

My tongue will sing of your word,

for all your commandments are right.

Let your hand be ready to help me,

for I have chosen your precepts.

I long for your salvation, O LORD,

and your law is my delight.

Let my soul live and praise you,

and let your rules help me.

I have gone astray like a lost sheep;

seek your servant,

for I do not forget your commandments.

The plea for understanding is a continual thread throughout Psalm 119. With the request is acknowledgment that true understanding is given by God. His word is given to give us life, salvation, peace, comfort and righteousness. Jesus, the spoken Word fulfilled, answers the psalmist’s frequent cry for salvation. We are so blessed! We have the spoken Word, now written; we have the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ; we have the constant presence of the Holy Spirit, our comforter. And yet we forget and wallow in our self-pity parties, decrying our situations in life, losing the joy of the Lord. The psalmist so sought after what we have at our disposal, to take or to leave it. The psalmist knew the power in the combination of the Trinity. We do well to appreciate what we have and give God praise for it. We do well to take our collective eyes off our situation and do as the psalmist led; look to the Word and presence of God Almighty. Let us be diligent students of the gift of God’s word; let us pray with the psalmist for understanding as we meditate upon God’s principles. Let us give thanks for this gift of life and love so freely given by our Creator.

Disclaimer: if ads are appearing anywhere on this page it is because they are placed there by WordPress not by me. I have read the information on ads and in order to be ad free now, WordPress charges a fee. I apologize for any inconvenience these ads may cause you and if they are inappropriate please message me. Thank you, gracie